Arkansas

State of Arkansas

Flag of Arkansas Seal of Arkansas Also called: The Natural State (current), The Land of Opportunity (former) Saying(s): Regnat Populus (The People Rule)
Official language(s)	English
Capital	Little Rock
Largest city	Little Rock
Area	Ranked 29th
- Total	53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²)
- Width	239 miles (385 km)
- Length	261 miles (420 km)
- % water	2.09
- Latitude	33°N to 36°30'N
- Longitude	89°41'W to 94°42'W
Number of people	Ranked 33nd
- Total (2010)	2,915,918
- Density	56.0/sq mi  21.6/km² (36th)
Height above sea level
- Highest point	Mount Magazine 2,753 ft  (840 m)
- Average	650 ft  (198 m)
- Lowest point	Ouachita River 55 ft  (17 m)
Became part of the U.S.	June 15, 1836 (25th)
Governor	Mike Beebe (D)
U.S. Senators	Blanche Lincoln (D) Mark Pryor (D)
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/DST-5
Abbreviations	AR Ark. US-AR
Web site	http://www.arkansas.gov

Arkansas State symbols
The Flag of Arkansas.
Animate insignia
Bird(s)	Mockingbird
Butterfly	Diana Fritillary
Flower(s)	Apple blossom
Insect	European honey bee
Mammal(s)	White-tailed deer
Tree	Loblolly Pine
Inanimate insignia
Beverage	Milk
Dance	Square Dance
Food	South Arkansas Vine Ripe Pink Tomato
Gemstone	Diamond
Instrument	Fiddle
Mineral	Quartz
Rock	Bauxite
Soil	Stuttgart
Song(s)	Arkansas (song), Arkansas (You Run Deep In Me), Oh, Arkansas, The Arkansas Traveler
Tartan	Arkansas Traveler Tartan
Route marker(s)
State Quarter
Released in 2003
Lists of United States state insignia

Arkansas, sometimes called the Land of Opportunity or The Natural State, is a state in the United States of America. Its capital and largest city is Little Rock. It has been estimated that around 3 million people live in Arkansas today.

History

Arkansas became the 25th state to enter the Union in 1836. During the American Civil War, Arkansas was one of the Confederate states, however, it was the second state to be put back in to the U.S. in the Reconstruction.

Geography

View from the summit of Petit Jean Mountain, in the Arkansas River Valley, from Mather Lodge in Petit Jean State Park.

The Ouachita River runs through the Ouachita National Forest.

Blanchard Springs Caverns in Stone County is a popular tourist destination.

The Buffalo National River, one of many attractions that give the state's nickname The Natural State.

Flatside Wilderness Area, Ouachita Mountains, Arkansas

Arkansas borders Louisiana to the south, Texas to the southwest, Oklahoma to the west, Missouri to the north, and Tennessee and Mississippi on the east. The United States Census Bureau classifies Arkansas as a southern state. The Mississippi River forms most of Arkansas's eastern border, except in Clay and Greene counties. There the St. Francis River forms the western boundary of the Missouri Bootheel.

Arkansas has many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Arkansas has few natural lakes but many major reservoirs, including Bull Shoals Lake, Lake Ouachita, Greers Ferry Lake, Millwood Lake, Beaver Lake, Norfork Lake, DeGray Lake, and Lake Conway.

Arkansas is home to many caves, such as Blanchard Springs Caverns. More than 43,000 Native American living, hunting and tool making sites have been catalogued by the State Archeologist. Arkansas is currently the only U.S. state in which diamonds are mined. This is done by members of the public with primitive digging tools for a small daily fee, not by commercial interests.

Arkansas is home to a dozen Wilderness Areas totaling around 150,000 acres (610 km²). These areas are set aside for outdoor recreation and are open to hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping. No vehicles are allowed in these areas.

Religion

First Baptist Church, Magnolia

Arkansas, like most other Southern states, is part of the Bible Belt. It is mostly Protestant. The largest denominations by number of followers in 2000 were the Southern Baptist Convention with 665,307; the United Methodist Church with 179,383; the Roman Catholic Church with 115,967; and the American Baptist Association with 115,916.

Education

Education in Arkansas has historically been a major issue. It is a problem that continues to this day. Part of the problem has been low teacher salaries and small budgets for spending on students. Other problems have been not wanting tointegrate, refusal to teach evolution, and poor school facilities.

Arkansas has two major university systems: Arkansas State University System and University of Arkansas System. Other public institutions include Arkansas Tech University, Henderson State University, Southern Arkansas University, and University of Central Arkansas. It is also home to 11 private colleges and universities. This includes Hendrix College, one of the nation's top 100 liberal arts colleges, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Culture

Arkansas is notable for its bauxite mines. Arkansas was also the first U.S. state where diamonds were found. Notable Arkansans include Bill Clinton, who was governor of Arkansas before he became the President of the United States, and Sam Walton, the founder of Wal-Mart.

Attractions

Arkansas is home to many areas protected by the National Park System. These include:

• Arkansas Post National Memorial at Gillett
• Buffalo National River
• Fort Smith National Historic Site
• Hot Springs National Park
• Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site
• Pea Ridge National Military Park
• President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site

Related pages

• List of counties in Arkansas
• List of rivers of Arkansas